Early in December of 2004, we put out a request to the readers of MusicTAP to get the best of 2004 from the reader perspective. We didn't ask for explanations, just names. And did the mail pour in. So, what we have done was to generate a listing of the album a la Rolling Stone style. Of course, lists like this are always controversial. We certainly got a heckuva lotta surprises especially by what didn't get too much attention (Green Day's American Idiot for one only received 5 votes.To be fair, a reader called American Idiot "..a neo-punk, Who-esque song cycle that focused on 'the song' with jaded wit and the best drum sounds ever. An instant classic!" So enjoy what we have. If you see something that you haven't been introduced to, we hope that you'll investigate further. The real reasoning behind this list is not to tout our opinions but to provide a chance for you to pick up on any deficiencies and become enlightened an album or two further than you may already be. I call new-found talent from lists like these, gifts.
The two big head-to-head albums in this list were U2's How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (placement not shared by this editor but I'll leave those thoughts deeply embedded within my grey matter) and Brian Wilson's Smile. The official score was U2 with 143 leaving the second big vote getter, Smile, with 100 even (no, Tim Merrill, I didn't count your list 5 times. He had listed Smile 5 times as the best of '04.) Interestingly, the fans for U2 provided extraordinary declarations that included "..U2's best since War." One email list sent in recorded second place SMiLE 5 times. I guess that means that it was well received. As it should be for how many years after the fact?! Other notations stated, "Beautiful! I remember (barely) the controversy in '67. Worth every minute of the wait!", and "...totally blown away by this album! For an even better listening experience, try the vinyl..."
The incoming emails noted other favourites. Secret Machines' Now Here is Nowhere locked in 36 votes. I like it but this show of support for Secret Machines certainly surprised me. A reader called Secret Machines, "...Pink Floyd, meets Led Zeppelin by way of Flaming Lips." Apt.
Following Secret Machines by only a single vote was Tears for Fears' long delayed Everybody Loves a Happy Ending. Certainly this issue was a highlight of 2004. Some statements from readers included "Great to have the original duo back together again", and "...bouyant, catchy pop that still works."
Snow Patrol did real well with 25 votes. Their Final Straw album struck a chord in listeners. And although the album came out in 2003 for Europe, the US didn't get this one until 2004 and so it stays despite the technicality. "...the melodies hook you, but when you dive deeper, the heart-wrenching lyrics..reveal a much deeper experience waiting underneath."
Finishing up the serious multiple vote getters (20 or more votes) were Modest Mouse's Good News for People Who Love Bad News with 23, Franz Ferdinand's self titled album with 20, and Interpol's Antics (20). What a trilogy that is.
Here's the list of bands that received multiple votes. If an email contained multiple votes, I only accepted the first. I'm installing the list as they came in numbers wise. I've also included comments as they were available. Here they are:
- U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
- Brian Wilson Presents - SMiLE
"..if you haven't heard this CD yet, stop what you're doing and go buy it."
- Secret Machines - Now Here is Nowhere
- Tears For Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
"Best Beatles recording of the new Millennium (until the next Oasis record ;- ). George really nailed this one."
- Snow Patrol - Final Straw
"Wow is all I can say to describe this CD."
- Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News
- Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
"..Scottish band stirs up the ghost of Gang of Four..." - Interpol - Antics
"...the one album this year I simply cannot stop listening to." and "...took what was good about the first album and aced the dreaded sophomore..."
- Morrissey - You are the Quarry
"It's his world, we only live in it."
- Keane - Hopes and Fears
"...the most beautifully melodic, piano driven music I've have ever heard.."
- Mark Knopler - Shangri-La
"... absolutely sublime."
- Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
"...reminds me why I love pop music."
- Marillion - Marbles
"...it just doesn't get any better than this.", "..after two months, I haven't gotten tired of this masterpiece", and "...most complete and varied work to date."
- Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
"In a word, awesome!", and "...simply the best country music in a decade...from anyone." - Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
" ...I'm still cryin'."
- Bjork - Medulla
"The unadulterated human joy of singing is explored in every imaginable way here and it's nothing short of incredible."
- The Finn Brothers - Everybody is Here
- Patti Smith - Trampin'
" this girl will always be potent.", and "Patti Smith...same as she ever was...powerful!"
- Green Day - American Idiot
- PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
- Elliott Smith - From a Basement on a Hill
"...hauntingly beautiful and sad..."
- Underoath - They're Only Chasing Safety
"...it is a great album even if it is only 35 minutes long."
- Elton John - Peachtree Road
"...soulful, energetic, has loads of great piano playing, and fits in comfortably with his other masterpiece releases from the 70s."
- Trashcan Sinatras - Weightlifting
This concludes the multiple vote getters. The following were single votes but I'm including here in the greater interest of potential introductions to new music for you, the reader. They are listed in no particular order. I've allowed reissued classics if they brought something new to the game. They are as follows:
- Blue Man Group - Complex (DTS DVD-Audio release)
- Incubus - A Crow Left of the Murder
"...wild, manic rocking fun..."
- Various Artists - Songs Inspired by The Passion of the Christ
"...a hauntingly beautiful album..."
- Kaada/Patton - Romances
- NIN - the downward spiral (SACD Deluxe Edition)
- Chris Stamey - Travels in the South
- Slipknot - Volume 3 (The Subliminal Verses)
"...excellent drumming and interesting guitar work makes this album easy to listen to over and over."
- The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
"...quirky sound and lyrics..."
- Pain of Salvation - Be
"...imagine a concept album like Days of Future Passed, played with heavy guitar and keyboards and all manner of strings and percussion. Still mesmerized by this one."
- Neal Morse - One
"...the CD is complex but keeps the hooks coming and stays grounded in good old aggressive Rock music."
- Matthew Parmenter - Astray
"...dark and moody with just the right amount of Van Der Graaf Generator, Peter Hammill, and early Genesis leanings to intrigue you..."
- Butch Walker - Letters
"...Butch's singer-songwriter album..."
- Jedd Hughes - Transcontinental
"...guitar tone king with tasty riffs..."
- Los Lonely Boys - Los Lonely Boys
"...a cross between Carlos Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughan."
- Bruce Hornsby - Halcyon Days
"...all the elements focused into a succinct eleven-song album."
- Porcupine Tree - Warszawa (limited release live issue)
"...perfect introduction for music fans looking for thoughtful, accessible, Pink Floyd level songwriting and musicianship." Available at www.porcupinetree.com.
- Pineapple Thief - 12 Stories Down
"...Smashing Pumpkins meet Coldplay..."
- Local H - Whatever Happened to PJ Soles
"...Scott Lucas is one of Rock's underappreciated geniuses."
- Jeff Buckley - Grace (Legacy Edition)
- The Grateful Dead - Beyond Description
"...this is what a box set should be."
- The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys
"...the bonus tracks really make it worthwhile..."
- Prince - Musicology
- Velvet Revolver - Contraband
- Scorpions - Unbreakable
- W.A.S.P. - The Neon God, Pt 1
- Glenn Hughes/Tony Iommi - The 1996 Dep Sessions
- Clutch - Blast Tyrant
- Rufus Wainwright - Want Two
- Monster Magnet - Monolithic Baby
- Todd Rundgren - Liars
- Ben Folds - Speed Graphic/Sunny 16/Super D
- Old 97s - Drag It Up
- OMPS - Garden State Soundtrack
- Charlotte Hatherly - Grey Will Fade
- No Doubt - B Sides and Remixes
- Joss Stone - Joss Stone
- Kenny Wayne Shepard - The Place You're In
- Ray Charles - Songs From Ray
"Genius."
- Wilco - A Ghost is Born
- Drive By Truckers - The Dirty South
- Mofro - Lochloosa
- Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
- Presidents of the USA - Love Everybody
"...a breath of fresh air in the clouded sea of modern music."
- Peter Murphy - Unshattered
- The Blue Nile - High
- Kings of Convenience - Riot on an Empty Street
- Jill Sobule - Underdog Victorius
- Blackfield - Blackfield
- Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series, Volume 6
- Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love
- Tesla - Into the Now
- Alter - Bridge
- Alison Krauss & The Union Station - Loneliness Runs Both Ways
- Asia - Silent Nation
- Alanis Morrisette - So-Called Chaos
- Kasabian - Kasabian
"They got the sound, the attitude, and the approach...This band will break North America in 2005!"
- Feist - Let It Die
- Duran Duran - Astronaut
- The Killers - Hot Fuss
- Donovan F - Donovan Frankenreiter
"Excellent mellow grooves for the surf set."
- Gomez - Split the Difference
"Incredible live solo set for an extremely talented guitar player and singer. (and very sad).
- Muse - Absolution
- Stina Nordenstam - The World is Saved
"The confessional barebones of the lyrics weave in and out of gorgeous strings..."
- Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
"...repeated plays worm their way under your skin..."
- CocoRosie - La Maison De Mon Reve
"Two sisters, one classically trained, the other a dead ringer for Billie Holiday..."
- Mick Fleetwood Band - Something Big
- The Futureheads - The Futureheads
"...Young UK band that echoes the punk sound of early Jam records. Includes a great cover of "Hounds of Love" by Kate Bush."
- Phil Manzanera - 6pm
- John Martyn - On the Cobbles
- Strawbs - Deja Fou
- Donovan - Beat Cafe
- The Arcade Fire - Funeral
- Leonard Cohen - Dear Heather
- Stars - Set Yourself on Fire
- American Music Club - Love Songs for Patriots
- Nelly McKay - Get Away From Me
- Eric Wollo - Blue Sky, Red Guitars
- Craig Padilla - Genesis
- Heart - Jupiter's Darling
- Polyphonic Spree - Together We're Heavy
This list is a list generated by the interested emails of readers who provided their subjective thoughts on what was the best for them in 2004. It isn't our endorsement nor are they reflective of what really was the best of 2004. My opinion? If you took the time to email me, then it says something about one of the bands listed above. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to check out some of these titles.
